Trade Talk

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the EU, on March 25, The Independent​ newspaper published a list of 50 reasons we should love the often derided institution. But the newspaper appeared to set the bar too high and had to scrape the barrel for some of them. Number 14, for example - making the French eat British beef again - was hardly a success considering France ignored EU demands to resume imports of British beef for years.

And the idea that Europe has revolutionised British attitudes to food and cooking can also be challenged. Modern British cuisine is more innovative than virtually any other in the world. Many EU countries have stuck to their own nation's cuisine but we have moved ahead while taking care to retain the best of British food.

The Independent​ also lauds "clearer food labelling" on its list. But its choice of words is ambiguous: 'clearer' could mean either 'easier to understand' or 'providing more information'. The latter interpretation creates the possibility of labelling becoming less clear, should too much information be required by legislators. I'm not saying labelling shouldn't be required, but simply contesting the paper's claim that current food labelling is a reason to love the EU.

If we go back 50 years, there was very little food labelling. If the UK had not been a member of the EU we would still have introduced our own food labelling. But it might have been clearer for UK consumers because it would not have suffered the element of compromise inherent in reaching agreement between the different cultures and languages of the EU.

Many significant achievements do not make the list - for example improvements in hygiene standards. Labelling benefits only those who use it, but hygiene standards affect all consumers, even if they are unaware of them. Talking of celebration, substantial credit should go to the food industry because many advances were made before they were seized on by the EU and enshrined in law. Had the UK not taken the lead in reacting to late 1980s food scares, advances may not have spread as swiftly across the EU. The Independent​ should perhaps have listed 50 things the UK has done for the EU.

[Clare Cheney mailto:clare.cheney@provtrade.co.uk] is Director General of the Provision Trade Federation​